THE  UNIVERSITY  BULLETIN 


Published  Bi-monthly  by  the  State  University  and  School  of  Mines  of  North  Dakota 
University,  N.  D. 


Entered  February  4,  1909  at  University,  North  Dakota,  as  Sceond-class  Matter, 
Under  Act  of  Congress  of  July  16,  1894 


IN  MEMORIAM 

PROFESSOR  JOHN  MACNIE 


WITH  A 

SKETCH  OF  HIS  LIFE  AND  CHARACTER 

BY 

EX-PRESIDENT  WEBSTER  MERRIFIELD 

AND  THE  ADDRESSES  GIVEN  AT  THE 

MEMORIAL  EXERCISES 

In  the  University  Armory 


NOVEMBER  THE  SECOND 


MCMIX 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/inmemoriamprofesOOmerr 


Biographical  anO  pergonal 

t 


By  Ex-President  Webster  Merrifield 


After  graduating  from  Yale  in  1877  I taught 
for  two  years  in  a small  private  preparatory  school 
for  boys  at  Newburgh,  New  York.  The  high  char- 
acter of  this  school,  largely  the  creation  of  Pro- 
fessor Macnie,  is  attested  by  the  fact  that,  though 
numbering  only  about  twenty-five  pupils,  in  the  two 
years  I was  connected  with  it  and  the  year  follow- 
ing it  furnished  two  valedictorians  to  Yale  and  a 
salutatorian  to  Williams  College,  the  Alma  Mater 
of  President  Garfield.  A day  or  two  before  the 
school  year  of  1877-8  opened,  in  looking  through 
the  class-room  which  had  been  assigned  to  me  I 
discovered  a fragment  of  a dog-eared  copy  of  Ver- 
gil’s Aeneid  and  on  one  of  the  fly  leaves  this  bit 
of  doggerel,  written  clearly  by  one  of  the  boys: 

“There  was  a ole  man  from  bonny  Dundee , 

And  his  name  it  was  Johnny  Macnie; 

This  man  he  knew  Latin , this  man  he  knew  Greek, 
And  he  heard  a bad  lesson  every  day  in  the  week  ” 

This,  so  far  as  I can  now  recall,  was  the  first 
mention  I had  seen  or  heard  of  the  man  who  for 
ten  years  had  been  my  predecessor  as  teacher  of 

[3  ] 


Latin  and  Greek  in  the  school  and  with  whom,  as 
it  proved,  most  of  my  subsequent  life  was  to  be  so 
intimately  associated.  When,  some  years  after- 
ward, I repeated  this  bit  of  doggeral  to  Professor 
Macnie,  he  laughingly  replied  that  Dundee  was 
about  the  only  city  in  Scotland  which  he  had  never 
even  visited.  He  was  born,  I believe,  near  Stirling, 
in  January,  1836.  He  was  educated  at  the  Univer- 
sity of  Glasgow,  and  came  to  this  country  when  he 
was  about  thirty  years  old. 

When  the  boys  assembled  on  the  opening  day  of 
school  and  I was  assigned  as  head  of  the  table  in 
the  dining  room  occupied  by  the  older  boys,  I be- 
gan to  hear  frequent  references  to  “Mr.  Macnie” 
and  to  his  varied  and  encyclopedic  knowledge.  It 
soon  became  apparent  that  the  older  boys  in  the 
school  had  not  only  boundless  admiration  for  Mr. 
Macnie’s  astonishing  learning  but  a profound  re- 
spect and  warm  admiration  for  him  as  a man  and 
a friend.  I did  not  meet  Mr.  Macnie — as  he  was 
then  known — till  a year  from  the  following  May, 
when  it  was  announced  at  table  one  day  that  he 
was  to  pay  a visit  of  a few  weeks  to  his  old  haunts 
and  would  occupy  a room  in  the  dormitory.  When 
the  announcement  of  his  anticipated  visit  was  made 
I must  confess  to  considerable  trepidation  at  his 
coming;  for  I feared  that  he  might  be  a curious 
and  critical  visitor  to  my  classes  and  I recalled  the 
statement  of  some  of  the  boys  that  he  knew  his 
Latin  and  Greek  so  thoroughly  that  he  rarely  used 
a text-book  in  conducting  his  classes  in  Caesar, 

[4] 


Cicero,  Vergil,  Xenophon,  and  Homer.  When  Mr. 
Macnie  arrived,  however,  and  I was  presented  to 
him,  my  fears  vanished  at  once.  A more  gentle, 
modest,  unassuming  and  deferential  personage  I 
had  never  met.  He  seemed  to  take  it  for  granted 
that,  whatever  subject  he  happened  to  be  discours- 
ing upon,  his  auditors  knew,  of  course,  all  about  it, 
and  he  had  a way  of  deferring  to  their  judgment 
as  to  any  disputed  or  doubtful  point,  although  it 
was  certain  that  the  persons  with  whom  he  chanced 
to  be  conversing  knew  vastly  less  about  the  subject 
than  he  did — if,  indeed,  it  was  not  to  them  a veri- 
table terra  incognita.  In  our  daily  intercourse  dur- 
ing the  few  weeks  that  followed  his  coming  I be- 
came almost  as  deeply  impressed  with  the  astonish- 
ing range  and  truly  encyclopedic  character  of  Mr. 
Macnie’s  information  as  the  boys  had  been.  Lit- 
erature, Science,  Philosophy,  Mathematics,  Lan- 
guages, History, — all  were  to  him  familiar  ground. 
In  history,  especially,  he  seemed  to  have  read  every- 
thing and  to  have  remembered,  even  in  minutest  de- 
tail, everything  he  had  ever  read.  And  yet,  with 
all  his  prodigious  learning,  he  was  always  so  simple, 
so  apparently  unconscious  of  his  superiority,  and  so 
almost  childishly — I know  not  how  else  to  express 
it — enthusiastic  in  his  interest  in  every  field  of 
knowledge  that  it  was  a pleasure  to  listen  to  him 
while  he  ran  on,  as  he  often  would,  in  a sort  of 
monologue  almost  as  if  he  were  unconscious  of 
your  presence. 


[ 5 ] 


At  the  close  of  the  school  year  in  June,  1879,  I 
went  to  what  is  now  North  Dakota,  remaining 
there  till  appointed  to  a tutorship  at  Yale  in  the 
following  autumn.  Mr.  Macnie  meanwhile  returned 
to  his  old  position  in  the  school  at  Newburgh.  After 
four  years  on  the  Yale  faculty  I was  offered  and 
accepted  the  professorship  of  Greek  and  Latin  in 
the  newly  established  University  of  North  Dakota, 
and  entered  upon  my  duties  in  September,  1884. 
At  the  end  of  the  first  year,  when  it  became  neces- 
sary to  create  the  chair  of  French  and  German,  I 
suggested  to  the  Regents  (as  the  Trustees  were  then 
called)  the  name  of  Mr.  Macnie  for  the  position 
and  secured  from  a number  of  his  Eastern  admirers 
strong  testimonials  as  to  his  fitness  for  the  place. 
One  of  the  Regents — a scholarly  and  very  estim- 
able man — was  himself  a candidate  for  the  position ; 
but  when  he  heard  Mr.  Macnie’s  testimonials  read 
he,  with  a fine  appreciation  of  the  situation,  said 
that  he  ought  not  to  be  considered  for  a moment  as 
against  such  a man.  And  so  Mr.  Macnie  was 
unanimously  elected  by  the  Board  and  entered  upon 
the  duties  of  his  position  in  the  fall  of  1885.  Since 
then  he  has  been  a familiar  figure  to  all  who  have 
been  connected  in  any  way  with  the  University  as 
well  as  to  all  the  older  generations  among  the  citi- 
zens of  Grand  Forks.  Of  his  unique  and  delightful 
personality  I need  not  speak  to  any  who  have  ever 
met  him.  Of  his  profound  and  varied  scholarship 
it  is  equally  needless  to  speak.  At  various  times  he 
taught  at  the  University  French,  German,  Spanish 

[6  J 


— even  Italian  privately  to  a few  pupils — Latin, 
Greek,  Philosophy,  Psychology,  History,  Physics, 
the  higher  Mathematics  and  English  Literature. 
He  was  the  author  of  an  algebra  and  a geometry — 
both  widely  used  throughout  the  country — as  well 
as  of  a work  on  the  Theory  of  Equations,  which 
was  used  for  some  years  as  a text  book  at  West 
Point,  about  the  only  institution  in  the  country 
where  the  subject  was  taught. 

It  is  not,  however,  of  Professor  Macnie,  the  great 
scholar  and  inspiring  teacher,  that  I wish  here  to 
speak,  but  rather  of  his  rare  qualities  as  a friend, 
of  his  great  unselfishness,  his  constant  thoughtful- 
ness for  others,  his  genuineness  as  a man  and  as  a 
Christian,  his  delightful  fancy  and  quaint  humor, 
his  naiveness  of  manner  and  his  unworldliness,  even 
unsophisticatedness,  which  made  him  the  subject  of 
many  droll  and  highly  improbable  anecdotes  among 
the  student  body. 

Of  his  unfailing  interest  in  the  students  and  par- 
ticularly in  the  young  ladies,  for  whose  comfort 
and  pleasure  he  was  always  contriving,  every  one 
knows ; and  the  two  evenings  in  the  year — the  birth- 
days of  his  son  and  grandson  in  May  and  October 
— which  have  come  to  be  known  at  the  University 
as  Professor  Macnie’s  Treat  to  the  Girls,  bear  elo- 
quent, almost  pathetic  witness.  That  the  successive 
generations  of  young  women  at  the  University  have 
appreciated  his  thoughtfulness  and  concern  for  their 
welfare  and  have  felt  for  him  a genuine  affection 
is  evidenced  in  the  fact  of  their  petitioning  the 

[7] 


Trustees  to  have  one  of  the  young  ladies’  dormi- 
tories named  Macnie  Hall  in  his  honor  shortly  after 
his  retirement.  Of  his  fine  feeling,  his  love  for  the 
University  and  his  happy  gift  of  poetical  expres- 
sion we  have  enduring  evidence  in  his  fine  Uni- 
versity hymn — Alma  Mater — which  has  never  been 
excelled  if,  indeed,  it  has  ever  been  equalled  in  dig- 
nity and  beauty  as  a college  song.  Many  of  his 
occasional  verses  in  The  Student  are  of  rare  beauty 
both  in  their  lofty  conception  and  their  grace  of 
expression.  Professor  Macnie  published  one  novel 
— “The  Diothas,  or  a Far  Look  Ahead” — which 
went  through  several  editions,  one,  at  least,  in  Eng- 
land and  which,  as  a former  librarian  of  the  Boston 
Public  Library  maintained,  furnished  the  sugges- 
tion, both  in  topic  and  treatment  of  Edward  Bel- 
lamy’s much  less  artistic  though  more  widely  read 
“Looking  Backward,”  of  which  several  hundred 
thousand  copies  were  sold  in  this  country  and  Eng- 
land and  which  was  translated  into  several  other 
languages.  Indeed,  this  gentleman  went  so  far  as 
to  charge,  through  the  Boston  Traveller,  that  Bel- 
lamy had  deliberately  plagiarized  Professor  Mac- 
nie’s  book.  Professor  Macnie  also  wrote  one  or 
two  other  novels  of  a very  high  order  of  merit,  the 
scenes  of  which  were  laid  in  Greece  in  the  time  of 
Xenophon,  but  he  never  published  them,  owing  to 
the  declining  interest  in  classical  subjects. 

Professor  Macnie,  of  all  persons  I have  ever 
known,  was  the  most  unselfish  and  altruistic,  as  he 
was  the  most  charitable.  During  the  seventeen 
[8] 


years  that  we  lived  together  I never  heard  him  speak 
an  unkind  or  disparaging  word  of  a colleague  or 
friend,  although  he  was  quick  and  unsparing  in  his 
denunciation  of  men  who  were  shifty  or  unscrupu- 
lous in  positions  of  public  trust.  He  seemingly 
never  thought  of  his  own  advancement  or  pecuniary 
profit  or  reputation.  He  had  absolutely  no  faculty 
for  pushing  himself  and  but  for  the  interest  taken 
in  him  by  friends  who  knew  his  rare  worth  he  would 
doubtless  have  labored  to  the  last  in  some  hidden 
corner,  unobserved  and  unappreciated  save  by  a 
very  few. 

His  lovable  and  altogether  admirable  and  unique 
qualities  were  separated  by  the  whole  heaven  from 
those  which  go  to  make  the  successful  politician,  the 
merchant-prince,  the  railway  magnate,  or  the  so- 
called  Napoleon  of  Finance.  The  question  naturally 
arises,  what  is  the  value  to  society  of  such  a life  as 
Professor  Macnie’s,  so  unobtrusive,  modest  and  un- 
selfish ; yet  so  noble,  lovable  and  unique  in  its  almost 
childish  simplicity  and  naivete?  During  the  five 
delightful  weeks  I spent  at  Florence  in  my  visits  to 
the  great  art  galleries,  the  quaint  and  historic  pi- 
azzas, and  the  splendid  old  palaces  of  the  Medicis 
and  the  other  great  families  of  those  golden  three 
centuries  from  Dante  to  Michael  Angelo,  I had 
occasion  daily  to  pass  the  little  bronze  plate  in  the 
pavement  of  the  Piazza  della  Signoria,  which  marks 
the  spot  where  Savonarola  met  his  martyrdom  by 
fire  on  the  23d  of  May,  1498.  Many  were  the  hours 
I lingered  lovingly  in  the  three  tiny  cells  which  con- 

[9] 


stituted  Savonarola’s  chapel,  study  and  bedroom  in 
the  old  monastery  of  San  Marco  and  in  those  other 
tiny  cells  of  Fra  Angelico  and  good  old  Sant’  An- 
tonio. All  three  of  them  have  been  dead  these  four 
hundred  years  and  more.  Dead,  too,  these  four 
hundred  years  and  rpore  are  the  Medicis — Cosmo, 
“Pater  Patriae;”  Lorenzo,  “the  Magnificent,”  and 
all  the  rest  of  them  who  dwelt  in  those  splendid  old 
palaces,  still  the  wonder  of  the  world.  Why  is  it 
that  the  thousands  who  come  yearly  to  Florence 
make  their  pilgrimages  of  love  and  admiration,  not 
to  the  stately  palaces  of  the  old  town  but  to  the  five 
tiny  cells  at  San  Marco  and  to  the  little  prison 
chamber,  high  up  in  that  matchless  old  tower  of  the 
Palazzo  Vecchio,  where  Savonarola  passed  the  last 
forty  days  of  his  life  a prisoner  and  from  which  he 
walked  on  that  memorable  23d  of  May  to  his  fiery 
death?  I can  not  answer  better  than  in  the  words 
of  America’s  great  novelist  and  charming  essayist, 
William  D.  Howells,  who,  writing  of  Savonarola 
and  Lorenzo,  “II  Magnifico,”  in  his  “Tuscan 
Cities,”  says:  “There  is  nothing  of  Savonarola 
now  but  the  memory  of  his  purpose,  nothing  of 
Lorenzo  but  the  memory  of  his.  The  one  willed 
only  good  to  others  and  the  other  willed  only  good 
to  himself.  All  history,  like  each  individual  ex- 
perience, enforces  nothing  but  this  lesson  of  altru- 
ism ; and  it  is  because  the  memory  which  consecrates 
the  church  of  San  Marco  teaches  it  in  supreme  de- 
gree that  one  stands  before  it  with  swelling  heart.” 
In  his  great  unselfishness  and  his  never  failing  con- 
[ 10] 


sideration  for  the  pleasure  and  welfare  of  others, 
Professor  Macnie  constantly  calls  to  my  mind  all 
three  of  those  great  spirits  who  have  made  of  San 
Marco  one  of  the  world’s  most  cherished  shrines; 
but,  in  his  rare  gentleness,  his  self-abnegation,  his 
never  failing  sweetness  and  goodness,  he  was  more 
like  Sant’  Antonio  and  Fra  Angelico  than  the  great 
Florentine  preacher,  and  perhaps  most  of  all  like 
unto  Fra  Angelico,  whose  golden  angels,  painted 
nearly  five  hundred  years  ago  on  the  bare  walls  of 
the  tiny  monks’  cells  of  San  Marco,  keep  reminding 
me,  somehow  or  other,  of  the  thousand  little  acts 
and  words  of  kindness  of  him  who  so  recently  was 
our  beloved  colleague.  His  mortal  part  will  soon  be 
dust,  as  Fra  Angelico’s  has  been  these  many  hun- 
dred years;  but  his  beautiful  life,  like  Fra  Angeli- 
co’s angels,  will  go  shining  down  the  ages.  All 
goodness  is  immortal,  whether  it  find  expression  in 
Fra  Angelico  angels,  painted  on  the  bare  convent 
walls  of  San  Marco,  or  as  a truly  human  influence, 
impressed  on  humble  human  hearts;  for,  as  George 
Eliot  says,  speaking  of  Dorothea,  “the  growing 
good  of  the  world  is  partly  dependent  on  unhistoric 
acts ; and  that  things  are  not  so  ill  with  you  and  me 
as  they  might  have  been  is  half  owing  to  numbers 
who  lived  faithfully  a hidden  life  and  rest  in  un- 
visited tombs.” 

Professor  Macnie’s  grave  in  the  little  country 
cemetery  at  Easton,  Connecticut,  where  he  lies  be- 
side the  wife  of  his  youth,  who  survived  their  mar- 
riage by  less  than  a year,  will  be  a mecca  of  loving 

[ii] 


memories  to  the  thousands  of  his  former  pupils,  co- 
laborers and  friends,  though  not  one  of  them  may 
ever  visit  it  in  person. 


Memorial  Cretcfees 


Held  in  the  University  Armory 
November  2,  1909. 

Invocation The  Rev.  W.  H.  Matthews 

Music:  “Lead  Kindly  Tight’ U -University  Quartette 

Introductory  Remarks President  Frank  L.  McVey 

Address : Professor  Macnie  as  a Friend, 

Mrs.  F.  C.  Massee 

Music:  “Two  Cities  Gray” University  Quartette 

Address : Professor  Macnie  as  a Colleague, 

Dean  M.  A.  Brannon 
Music:  “Jesus,  Saviour,  Pilot  Me,” 

University  Quartette 

Address : Professor  Macnie  as  a Churchman, 

The  Rev.  J.  K.  Burleson 
Address : Professor  Macnie  as  a Citizen, 

Hon.  Tracy  R.  Bangs 

Music : “Alma  Mater” By  the  Audience 

Benediction The  Rev.  F.  E.  R.  Miller 


[ >2] 


Sntro&uctorp  l&emarftg 


By  President  McVey. 


In  the  short  period  of  a month  three  men  who 
were  close  to  our  hearts  have  been  gathered  to  their 
fathers.  One  of  them  came  from  Swedish  ancestry, 
one  belonged  to  the  Norwegian  nation,  and  one 
traced  his  forebears  to  the  Scottish  people.  Each 
of  them  found  a home  in  America.  Each  sought 
his  work  in  a separate  field  of  the  public  life  and 
history  of  our  people.  One  was  an  editor  and  a 
political  leader,  the  governor  of  a neighboring  state ; 
another  was  a lawyer  and  a senator  in  the  congress 
of  the  American  commonwealths;  and  the  last  was 
a scholar  and  a teacher  of  youth.  It  is  to  honor 
this  man  that  we  have  met  this  afternoon,  in  mem- 
ory of  the  work  that  he  did  among  us,  of  the  way 
in  which  he  touched  our  hearts,  of  the  things  which 
he  held  as  standards,  and  which  will  remain  with 
us  from  year  to  year  and  stamp  the  whole  history 
of  the  University  that  we  love. 

In  order  that  we  may  have  a wider  view  of  Pro- 
fessor Macnie’s  character  and  work,  some  of  his 
friends  have  been  asked  to  speak  regarding  him  in 
the  different  relations  of  life.  First  Mrs.  Massee, 
a life-long  friend  of  Professor  Macnie,  will  present 
him  as  a friend;  Dean  Brannon,  a co-worker  with 
[ 13  ] 


him  for  many  years  on  the  faculty  of  the  Univer- 
sity, will  speak  of  him  as  a colleague;  Rev.  Mr, 
Burleson  will  say  something  of  his  life  as  a church- 
man, and  Mr.  Tracy  Bangs  of  his  place  as  a citizen. 


tutoress 

professor  H^acnte  a ifrtenfc 

Mrs.  F.  C.  Massee. 


The  greatest  people  I have  known  in  the  world 
have  been  simple,  and  easy  of  access,  not  mindful 
of  their  own  greatness;  and  the  most  beautiful 
things  in  the  world  are  simple  and  easy  of  under- 
standing. In  these  two  classes  I place  the  charac- 
ter and  friendship  of  Professor  Macnie. 

It  is  as  a friend  principally  that  I have  been  asked 
to  speak  of  him  today.  It  is  twenty  years  since  I 
first  knew  him,  and  nineteen  of  those  years  I have 
counted  him  a friend.  In  the  early  days  of  the 
University,  when  classes  were  small,  the  oppor- 
tunity for  acquaintance  and  friendship  between 
teacher  and  student  was,  of  course,  much  greater 
than  it  is  today,  and  this  privilege  gave  to  me,  per- 
haps, the  rarest  and  most  beautiful  friendship  of  my 
life.  Professor  Macnie  was  then  in  the  best  prime 
of  mature  manhood,  before  age  had  dimmed  any  of 
his  faculties.  When  I came  to  know  him  intimately 
I understood  in  part  the  beautiful  romance  of  his 
[ 14] 


life  that  led  him  to  idealize  all  womanhood.  His 
love  for  his  girl  bride,  who  died  before  one  year  of 
wedded  life  was  completed  and  before  she  had 
reached  her  twentieth  year,  remained  with  him 
through  the  long  years  of  what  seemed  to  many  a 
lonely  life;  and  through  this  memory  all  girlhood 
was  beautiful  to  him  and  all  womanhood  sacred. 

As  a friend  he  had  the  rare  faculty  of  holding 
you  up  to  your  best,  of  understanding  what  you 
reached  after  rather  than  your  poverty  of  achieve- 
ment. Without  a grain  of  flattery,  he  had  always 
a ready  appreciation  of  motives.  He  dealt  frankly 
with  defects,  and  then  forgot  them.  His  sentiment 
was  never  sentimentality,  his  sympathy  never  ob- 
trusive, and  yet  both  were  warm  and  abiding. 

Scholarship  and  its  results  did  not  mean  to  him 
the  chief  things  in  life,  although  he  himself  was 
happy  and  content  in  their  pursuit.  He  believed  in 
and  advised  first  of  all  the  joys  of  home  and  little 
children,  with  all  else  secondary.  He  saw  the 
poetry  in  simple,  everyday  life,  and  opened  the 
dimmer  eyes  of  his  friends  to  surrounding  loveli- 
ness. Up  to  his  last  few  years  at  the  University, 
when  his  strength  began  to  wane,  he  was  a frequent 
visitor  at  my  home,  dropping  in  almost  every  week 
during  pleasant  weather,  and  best  of  all  I love  to 
remember  him  in  the  occasional  aimless  tramps  to- 
gether through  the  woods,  when  the  first  delicate 
tints  of  unfolding  leaves  colored  the  trees  in  spring 
or  when  the  rich  autumn  shades  flaunted  every- 
where. His  coming  was  always  a joy  to  the  chil- 

[IS] 


dren,  and  he  seemed  to  understand  even  the  small- 
est. 

To  those  who  knew  him  best  he  was  not  like  any 
other  person, — this  man  who  possessed  a master’s 
mind  in  so  many  different  ways,  this  scholar,  phil- 
osopher and  poet,  who  has  left  us ; but  to  me  he  will 
chiefly  remain  the  staunch,  dependable  friend, — 
pure,  lofty,  inspiring,  and  gentle  as  the  Christ  who 
lifted  little  children  to  his  bosom. 


2ltJt)Te0£ 

t&rofe$0or  09acnte  as  a Colleague 

Dean  Melvin  A.  Brannon. 


It  is  difficult  to  present  the  attributes  of  any  great 
man;  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  picture  his  person- 
ality. Notwithstanding  twelve  years  of  intimate 
relationship  with  Professor  Macnie  on  the  faculty 
of  this  institution,  it  were  better  if  some  other  mem- 
bers who  have  known  him  yet  longer  were  here  to 
pay  this  tribute  this  afternoon.  It  were  most  fitting 
if  ex-President  Merrifield,  “most  worthy  man,” 
were  here  today  to  speak  of  Professor  John  Macnie, 
“man  most  worthy.” 

In  a very  simple  way,  and  in  a very  reverent  way, 
I should  like  to  bear  testimony  to  the  character  of 
this  man,  who  has  been  presented  to  you  already  as 
[ 16] 


great  because  of  his  Christianlike  simplicity,  and 
great  also  by  reason  of  his  scholarship. 

President  Jordan  of  Leland  Stanford  says  that 
old  Cornell  was  glorious  because  of  her  faculty.  If 
she  achieved  any  distinction  in  the  past,  if  she 
achieves  any  distinction  today,  if  she  performs  any 
lasting  service  for  humanity  in  the  future,  it  is  be- 
cause of  the  faculty  of  Cornell  University.  This 
is  the  belief  and  the  declaration  of  all  who  appreci- 
ate the  worth  of  educational  institutions.  It  must 
be  because  of  the  personalities  of  the  leaders  of 
those  institutions  that  they  are  able  to  train  leaders. 
And  so  if  we  are  to  appreciate  something  of  Pro- 
fessor Macnie’s  personality  and  greatness,  we  must 
throw  on  the  background  this  afternoon  a little 
sketch  of  the  man’s  greatness  as  a scholar. 

As  you  know,  he  was  born  in  Scotland,  but  he 
was  reared  in  Germany,  and  then  he  was  educated 
in  Scotland  at  the  University  of  Glasgow,  and  he 
was  further  educated  upon  this  new  soil.  His 
greatness  as  a scholar  had  an  admirable  foundation 
in  his  training,  which  was  cosmopolitan.  His  great- 
ness as  a scholar  gave  him  the  name  which  he  de- 
servedly bore,  “a  walking  encyclopedia.”  Yet  not- 
withstanding his  wide  acquaintance  with  history, 
with  philosophy,  with  literature,  and  with  science, 
he  was,  as  Mrs.  Massee  has  said,  as  simple  as  a 
child,  thereby  commanding  us  to  witness  that  he 
was  great,  so  great  that  he  forgot  self,  and  merged 
his  personality  in  the  truth  that  came  to  him 
through  many  avenues. 

[ 17] 


You  who  know  something  of  the  building  of  the 
University  of  North  Dakota  will  remember  that  he 
was  not  a teacher  only,  but  outside  of  that  busy  life 
he  gave  evidence  of  his  scholarship,  and  that  evi- 
dence was  the  production  of  something,  the  ex- 
tension of  the  limits  of  knowledge.  You  will  re- 
member that  he  was  the  author  of  a text-book  in 
mathematics,  a work  on  algebra  for  which  he  re- 
ceived no  credit,  and  he  sought  none;  another  had 
the  satisfaction  of  reaping  the  benefits  of  this  man’s 
work.  He  was  the  author  of  a text-book  in  ge- 
ometry, used  in  this  institution  and  in  other  parts 
of  the  northwest.  He  was  the  author  also  in  earlier 
times  of  an  advanced  work  in  mathematics  which 
was  the  text  used  in  our  great  military  school. 

We  have  had  this  afternoon  testimony  regarding 
Professor  Macnie  by  one  who  was  taught  by  him. 
I,  too,  may  bring  tribute  as  one  taught  by  him,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  I was  a member  of  the 
faculty  with  him.  Professor  Macnie  was  always 
full  of  suggestions  and  showed  a familiarity  with 
scientific  subjects  that  continually  amazed  me. 
That  a man  who  was  a student  of  the  classics  and 
of  philosophy,  a teacher  of  the  languages,  should 
know  so  much  about  science,  should  be  so  deeply 
interested  in  the  things  of  science,  was  a perennial 
surprise  and  delight. 

The  students  who  were  in  his  classes  from  time 
to  time  will  bear  testimony  to  his  inspiration  as  a 
teacher.  There  are  students  in  the  city  o,f  Spokane, 
in  Boston,  and  in  many  other  places  in  this  great 
[ 18  ] 


land,  who  have  been  under  his  care,  and  from  all  of 
them  we  should  have  added  testimony  to  his  good- 
ness, simplicity,  and  inspiration  as  teacher  and 
guide.  Professor  Macnie’s  activities  as  a teacher 
were  not  confined  to  the  class-room.  For  years  he 
was  an  active  representative  of  Christian  work  in 
this  institution,  having  under  his  care  the  Sunday 
bible  class;  he  also  entered  into  the  athletic  activi- 
ties of  the  students.  Like  every  genuine  son  of 
Scotland,  he  was  passionately  devoted  to  certain 
expressions  of  the  athletic  spirit.  It  was  he  who 
first  helped  to  establish  our  tennis  courts  . He 
found  time  to  sympathize  and  join  with  us  in  foot- 
ball, baseball,  and  all  other  activities  which  make  for 
the  pure,  strong,  and  wholesome  man. 

The  1885  catalog  list  of  the  faculty  and  instruct- 
ors contains  eight  names.  Three  of  them  are  pasted 
in,  indicating  that  they  were  elected  subsequent  to 
the  publication  of  the  catalogue.  One  of  these  is 
H.  B.  Woodworth  and  one  is  John  Macnie.  Both 
of  them  have  built  themselves  into  the  life  of  this 
institution  in  a way  that  will  never  perish,  and  both 
of  them  have  gone  to  the  great  beyond. 

Professor  Macnie  was  called  here  as  Professor 
of  English,  German  and  French,  but  in  the  report 
which  was  made  for  the  year  1886  he  is  credited 
with  reports  in  five  subjects, — English  language 
and  literature,  French,  German,  and  history. 

Reverently  but  emphatically  I may  declare  that 
this  man  occupied  not  only  a chair  but  a whole  settee 
in  this  institution.  In  his  report  to  the  President 

c 19] 


for  1888,  after  speaking  of  the  students  in  his  vari- 
ous classes,  numbering  forty-six  in  all,  when  the 
total  institutional  enrollment  was  forty-eight,  he 
says  in  conclusion : “I  will  state  that  while  in  cer- 
tain cases  instruction  is  carried  on  with  some  diffi- 
culty, I yet  have  every  reason  to  be  pleased  with  the 
conduct  and  general  industry  of  the  students  under 
my  care.  The  lack  of  adequate  preparation  has  in 
many  conspicuous  instances  been  fully  compensated 
for  by  zeal  and  the  resolve  to  take  full  advantage 
of  the  opportunities  so  generously  afforded  them  by 
the  state.  The  difficulties,  it  may  be  hoped,  will 
diminish  with  time,  while  the  zeal  and  industry  will 
remain.” 

Thus  he  spoke  in  that  early  time  as  a teacher. 
Fortunately  he  saw  the  University  of  North  Dakota 
leave  many  very  grievous  difficulties  behind.  I 
trust  that  were  he  here  today  he  might  bear  em- 
phatic testimony  to  the  fact  that  “zeal  and  indus- 
try,” which  were  the  remedy  for  the  troubles  of  that 
time,  are  still  in  evidence  with  us. 

For  many  years  Professor  Macnie  was  secretary 
of  the  faculty.  I often  marveled  at  his  patience  and 
care  in  keeping  dry  records  of  countless,  and  at 
times  trivial  details. 

And  now  a word  with  reference  to  this  poet, 
mathematician  and  linguist  which  will  indicate 
something  of  his  religious  life.  It  is  better  that  he 
himself  should  speak.  Hear  him  in  this  little  poem: 


[ 20] 


TIME  AND  PATIENCE. 


Rising  from  the  depths  of  ocean 
Slowly  grows  the  coral  isle, 

Till  the  work  of  puny  insects 
Curbs  the  billows  mile  on  mile . 

Mountain-throned,  the  giant  cedar 
Cloudward  rears  its  head  sublime; 

Years  it  grew  a slender  sapling, 

Thousands  passed  to  reach  its  prime. 

Ages  in  its  rocky  matrix 
Slow  must  crystallise  the  gem, 

Ere  it  shines,  in  peerless  splendor, 

Starlike  in  the  diadem. 

Drop  by  drop  the  waters  falling 
Wear  in  time  the  flinty  stone; 

Time  and  patience  thus  accomplish 
Tasks  that  baffle  strength  alone. 

Undismayed,  then,  let  us  labor 
Till  the  destined  work  is  done; 

Stone  by  stone  is  reared  the  temple, 

Step  by  step  the  race  is  won. 

Professor  Macnie’s  activities  as  student-scholar 
extended  in  so  many  directions  that  this  earth 
could  not  limit  them.  He  was  a very  good  amateur 
astronomer.  His  admiration  for  the  limits  above 
is  indicated  in  this  little  sonnet  on  Orion,  written  for 
“The  Student:” 


[ 21  ] 


ORION. 


Resplendent  glory  of  the  southern  sky, 

The  clustered  jewels  of  thy  radiant  sword 
And  blazing  belt  through  aeons  vast  outpoured 
Their  radiance,  long  ere  yet  a sentient  eye 
Existed  to  admire  or  e'en  descry. 

Since  time  began  have  wondering  eyes  explored 
Of  sage  or  warrior,  saint  or  savage  horde, 

As  many  an  age  will  yet,  thy  splendors,  peerless, 
high. 

Yet  thou  shalt  also  pass;  for  what  art  thou ? 

Some  sparkling  drops  hurled  from  the  brimming 
urn 

Of  boundless  power  to  hang  in  boundless  space 
Through  boundless  time,  as  mortals  deem  it  now; 
But,  to  the  Power  through  whom  thy  splendors 
burn, 

A transient  gleam,  to  pass  and  leave  no  trace. 


The  religious  character  of  Professor  Macnie  is 
well  expressed  in  a poem  on  the  closing  century. 

THE  century's  CLOSE. 

When  the  level  rays  of  the  westering  sun 
Strike  sadly  fair  on  the  autumn  lea, 

We  pensively  sigh  for  another  day  gone 
T o merge  in  the  bygone  eternity. 

Yet  ’ tis  but  the  close  of  a single  line 

Of  the  book  whose  ending  is  mine  and  thine. 

[ 22  ] 


Gravely  we  watch  as  the  hand  creeps  near 
To  the  topmost  point  of  the  dial’s  face , 

Awaiting  the  last  of  the  dying  year, 

That  for  weal  or  woe  has  graved  its  trace. 

’Tis  a page  complete  that  for  aye  we  turn 

Of  the  hook  whose  ending  no  man  may  discern. 

In  a life  hut  once  we  attend  with  awe 

The  moment  that  marks  a century’s  close; 

Of  the  millions  that  hopeful  its  incoming  saw, 

Not  one  now  remains,  all  silent  repose. 

’ Tis  a chapter  closed  in  the  long,  long  tale 

Of  a strife  ne’er  to  end  till  the  better  prevail. 

Long  we  shall  have  passed  to  the  further  shore, 
When  hands  yet  unhorn  shall  the  story  indite, 
When  eyes  yet  to  he  o’er  the  record  shall  pore 
Of  this  chapter  with  pages  unturned  and  white, 
That  the  volume  ends  of  a thousand  years 

Of  man’s  brief  splendor,  his  strivings  and  tears. 

Once  again,  when  death  claimed  one  of  the  lead- 
ing students  of  the  University,  Clarence  Fairchild, 
Professor  Macnie  expressed  his  belief  in  God  and 
immortality  in  these  words : 

IN  MEMORIAM. 

Ah!  Why  this  waste ? is  the  question  sad, 

When  we  see  the  promises  fair 
Of  youthful  life  cut  off  ere  prime, 

Like  a weed  by  the  ploughman’ s share. 

c 23  ] 


For  this  the  love  and  care  of  years, 

From  those  that  gave  him  birth  ? 

Is  thus  the  fruit  of  years  of  toil 
To  vanish  quite  from  earth? 

Where  now  the  mind  of  daring  scope 
That  proudly  roamed  the  spheres, 

With  thoughts  that  scanned  the  universe, 

And  plans  that  spanned  the  years? 

Where  now  the  well-trained  manly  will, 

As  gentle  as  ’twas  brave? 

Is  all  gone  by  like  a zvithered  flower? 

All  swallowed  in  the  grave? 

No!  answer  the  eternities, 

God  labors  not  in  vain; 

His  choicest  work,  the  human  soul, 

Is  destined  to  remain. 

When  the  heavens  have  shrivelled  like  a scroll, 
When  constellations  new, 

Shall  roll  in  the  space  that  former  stars 
And  former  systems  knew, 

That  precious  thing,  that  spark  divine, 

Shall  through  the  ages  grow, 

In  szveetness  and  light,  and  God’s  design 
With  deepening  insight  know. 

He  has  but  passed  the  portal  dark 
That  we  must  pass  ere  long, 

Entered  through  death,  the  higher  life, 

Has  joined  a countless  throng. 

r 24] 


But , alas!  for  the  loving  hearts  that  now 
Bereft  through  life  must  go, 

The  hearts  that  henceforth  hear  a scar 
Never  to  heal  below. 

But  life  is  short,  eternity  long, 

And  soon  this  troubled  dream, 

Like  the  vanishing  cares  of  childhood's  days, 

In  the  misty  past  shall  seem. 

For  then  shall  vision  undimmed  be  ours, 

Where  now  we  blindly  grope, 

And  fulfilment  of  promise  then  shall  be, 

Where  now  we  dare  but  hope. 

But  we  feel  that  this  man  to  whom  we  bring  our 
tributes  this  afternoon  has  immortalized  himself  in 
our  University  song,  “Alma  Mater.”  If  he  had 
written  nothing  else,  he  would  have  made  for  him- 
self a righteous  claim  to  literary  greatness : 


ALMA  MATER. 

Hail  to  thee,  O Alma  Mater ! 

Hail  to  thee  with  heart  and  tongue! 
Pride  we  feel  and  love  yet  greater, 
While  we  raise  this  grate  fid  song. 
Home  of  lofty  thought  and  learning, 
Beacon  o'er  our  western  land, 

Shrine  whence  still  the  everburning 
T orch  is  passed  from  hand  to  hand. 

r 25  ] 


Free  as  roam  our  winds  the  prairie , 

Thought  and  speech  here  unconfined , 

Free  as  eaglets  round  their  eyrie , 

Soar,  proud  offspring  of  the  mind . 

Love  of  freedom,  love  of  duty, 

Love  of  truth  without  a bound, 

Valor  in  thy  sons,  and  beauty 
In  thy  daughters  all,  be  found. 

Alma  Mater!  thine  the  glory, 

If  or  thought  of  ours  or  deed, 

Find  a place  in  song  or  story, 

Win  endeavor’s  glorious  meed. 

Prosper  ever,  fostering  mother! 

Down  the  ages  long  resound 
Loud  thy  fame,  while  many  another 
Finds  in  thee  what  we  have  found. 

At  this  hour,  as  we  say  to  this  friend,  this  teacher, 
this  colleague,  this  scholar,  “good-bye,” — a word 
which  Professor  Macnie  would  almost  never  use, — 
as  we  say  it  now  to  this  man  whose  immaculate 
presence  always  indicated  great  purity  of  soul 
within,  we  realize  that  he  exemplified  the  high 
ideals  of  “Alma  Mater;”  and  as  the  light  of  this 
closing  day  glorifies  the  western  sky  and  sea  it 
seems  to  me  that  our  departed  friend  sends  back 
this  message  of  abiding  hope: 

Sunset  and  evening  star, 

And  one  clear  call  for  me! 

And  may  there  be  no  moaning  of  the  bar, 

When  I put  out  to  sea; 

[ 26] 


But  such  a tide  as  moving  seems  asleep, 

Too  full  for  sound  and  foam, 

When  that  which  drezv  from  out  the  boundless  deep 
Turns  again  home. 

Twilight  and  evening  bell, 

And  after  that  the  dark! 

And  may  there  be  no  sadness  of  farewell, 

When  I embark. 

For  tho’  from  out  our  bourne  of  Time  and  Place 
The  flood  may  bear  me  far, 

I hope  to  see  my  pilot  face  to  face 
When  I have  crost  the  bar. 


2 litotes# 

#rof  es#or  £@acnte  as  a Cljurctjman 

The.  Rev.  J.  K.  Burleson. 

After  the  words  of  our  friend  to  which  we  have 
just  listened,  words  which  bring  to  us  the  voice  of 
a serene  faith  and  a certain  hope,  the  voice  which 
speaks  of  a consecration  of  life  and  thought  as  well 
as  word,  it  seems  to  me  that  we  hardly  need  to  speak 
further  or  to  try  to  amplify  further  the  thought  of 
Professor  Macnie  as  a churchman.  For  to  be  a 
churchman  means  far  more  than  merely  to  be  a 
member  of  an  organization  or  of  a denomination. 
It  is  something  that  must  go  down  into  the  depths 

c 27] 


of  the  life  of  every  man  and  woman,  and  become 
the  center  of  that  life,  if  the  life  be  what  it  should 
be.  To  meet  Professor  Macnie  was  to  recognize 
an  earnest,  simple,  quiet,  strong  man.  And  that 
characterizes  exactly  the  religious  life  of  Professor 
Macnie, — it  was  earnest,  simple,  quiet,  strong.  And 
so  in  speaking  of  him  as  a churchman  we  need  not 
bring  out  that  fact,  for  it  has  already  been  brought 
out.  But  when  we  speak  of  the  outward  signs  of 
that  life,  or  rather  the  few  signs  which  can  be  put 
into  words,  we  are  only  touching  the  surface,  only 
speaking  of  the  superficial  appearances  in  that 
strong  current  of  spiritual  power  which  was  in  the 
man’s  self. 

Professor  Macnie  was  brought  up  in  the  Scotch 
Episcopal  church.  When  he  came  to  this  city  he 
was  at  first  associated  with  the  work  of  St.  Paul’s 
Parish;  but  afterwards,  because  of  local  circum- 
stances and  through  the  strong  claims  of  the  friend- 
ships which  he  made  here  in  this  institution,  he 
identified  himself  with  the  work  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  became  an  active  member  of  that  or- 
ganization. For  many  years — I have  been  unable 
to  find  how  many, — he  was  the  teacher  of  the  bible 
class  in  the  Presbyterian  Sunday  School;  and  those 
who  were  under  his  teaching  there  tell  us  that  he 
was  here,  as  always,  the  earnest,  simple,  helpful 
man, — certain  in  his  faith,  and  direct  and  clear  in 
his  teaching,  without  any  questioning  as  to  the  truth 
and  the  power  of  the  word  he  taught,  and  bringing 
[28] 


that  conviction  home  to  the  hearts  and  lives  of 
those  who  heard  him.  In  connection  with  that  work 
he  carried  on  the  Sunday  evening  bible  class  in  this 
institution  for  about  fifteen  years,  so  that  this  or- 
ganization probably  owes  its  existence  to  his  work 
and  efforts;  for  he  did  more  than  any  one  else  to 
make  it  what  it  is.  His  teachings  were  always 
along  what  are  called  orthodox  lines.  He  had  little 
use  for  new  fads  and  fancies,  but  held  firmly  to  the 
basic  truths  and  insisted  on  them,  though  he  recog- 
nized the  views  of  other  people  and  respected  them. 

Professor  Macnie  was  also  of  great  assistance  in 
the  work  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  the  Y.  W.  C.  A., 
especially  of  the  latter ; for,  as  has  been  said  before, 
Professor  Macnie  had  a very  tender  spot  in  his 
heart  for  all  young  women.  Indeed,  I am  told  that 
many  times  it  was  his  personal  self-sacrifice  that 
made  it  possible  for  the  young  women  of  the  insti- 
tution to  attend  the  church  services  in  town,  for 
he  was  always  ready  to  give  up  his  own  leisure  and 
comfort  to  accompany  them  when  no  one  else  was 
found  to  do  it. 

His  faith  was  just  as  simple  and  uplifting  as  his 
life,  and  it  made  its  influence  felt  upon  every  one 
whom  he  knew.  I have  often  noticed  when  ques- 
tions came  up  in  that  organization  in  town  known 
as  the  Fortnightly  Club,  which  touched  religious  or 
spiritual  truths,  that  Professor  Macnie  always  had 
a word  to  say  which  did  much  to  clear  up  the  diffi- 
culties of  others;  a word,  also,  which  was  always 
on  the  side  of  the  higher  truth  and  the  higher  life. 

[29] 


It  has  been  said  that  Professor  Macnie  was  a 
great  man.  And  he  was.  And  yet,  he  was  not 
great  in  the  sense  in  which  that  word  is  sometimes 
used, — that  is,  spectacular  or  striking,  one  who 
would  call  attention  to  himself.  He  was  the  very 
last  to  do  that,  or  to  desire  any  such  thing;  and  it 
was  that  perfectly  simple  and  unconscious  life  of 
the  man  which  very  largely  helped  to  make  him  the 
power  that  he  was.  If  I were  asked  to  name  one 
characteristic  which  I think  did  most  of  all  to 
make  his  life  the  power  that  it  was,  I should  say 
that  it  was  the  constancy  of  the  man.  As  some  one 
once  expressed  it,  “You  always  know  just  where 
to  find  John  Macnie,  and  you  always  find  him  on 
the  right  side.” 

We  know  the  reward  which  is  waiting  for  him 
on  the  other  side.  We  know  exactly,  because  the 
Saviour  himself  has  told  us,  in  that  story  about 
the  king  who  went  into  a far  country,  and  coming 
back  called  his  servants  to  him  to  give  an  account 
of  what  they  had  done.  To  those  who  gave  a good 
account  he  said,  “Well  done,  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant; thou  hast  been  faithful — ” that  is  the  word, 
the  word  that  characterized  this  man’s  life,  faithful 
— “thou  hast  been  faithful  over  a few  things;  I 
will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things.  Enter  into 
the  joy  of  thy  Lord.” 


2U)tire00 

0rofe00or  £0atnte  a0  a Cttt3en 


Hon.  Tracy  R.  Bangs. 


We  have  been  told  of  Professor  Macnie  this 
afternoon  by  those  who  speak  as  few  others  can. 
Mrs.  Massee,  a life-long  friend,  Professor  Brannon, 
a friend  and  co-worker  with  him  in  this  institution, 
and  Mr.  Burleson,  who  looked  at  him  with  the  eyes 
of  a churchman,  have  spoken  of  him  as  a “friend,” 
a “colleague,”  and  a “churchman.” 

To  me  it  is  given  to  speak  of  him  as  a “citizen,” 
a man  among  men.  He  had  a life  other  than  as 
an  instructor.  He  was  recognized  among  the  men 
of  the  community  as  something  more  than  a mem- 
ber of  the  University  force.  He  was  an  instructor 
of  men  as  well  as  of  youth.  He  was  not  a dollar- 
chasing, nervous  business  man.  He  was  not  an  en- 
thusiast pursuing  any  line  of  public  work  that  called 
him  into  the  limelight  of  public  opinion ; but  he  saw 
a course  that  had  been  marked  out  for  him,  and  he 
followed  that  course  as  though  it  had  been  given 
to  him  by  divine  hands.  He  believed  that  he  had 
a life-work  to  do,  and  unfalteringly  doing  it  he 
became  an  example  to  the  men  of  the  world  who 
had  the  privilege  of  knowing  him,  for  observing 
him  they  were  shown  that  a man  could  acquire  hap- 
piness and  success  without  a soul-racking  struggle 
[3i  ] 


for  financial  gain.  As  a man  he  did  more  than 
think.  It  was  not  as  an  instructor,  it  was  not  as 
a friend,  it  was  not  as  a churchman,  in  the  days 
when  designing  politicians  with  the  idea  of  taking 
to  themselves  some  credit  for  economy  in  the  con- 
duct of  the  state’s  financial  affairs,  struck  at  the 
very  foundations  of  education  in  this  state,  that 
Professor  Macnie,  with  some  others — a little  band 
of  loyal  men,  some  of  whom  are  with  us  now, — was 
willing  to  forego  his  salary  and  give  all  his  time 
that  this  institution  might  be  kept  alive.  He  did 
that  as  a man,  as  a citizen  of  the  State  of  North 
Dakota,  as  one  who  was  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  this  commonwealth  and  whose  patriotism  rose 
far  above  self ; and  that  example  alone  is  enough 
to  place  him  firmly  on  the  tablets  of  our  memory, 
to  be  always  looked  upon  with  love  and  reverence, 
not  only  as  one  of  the  founders  of  the  educational 
system  of  this  state,  but  one  of  its  preservers  as 
well.  As  has  been  well  said,  he  was  timid  and 
gentle.  He  never  would  do  anything  to  attract 
attention  to  himself.  He  had  the  highest  ideals, 
not  only  of  womanhood,  but  of  manhood.  He  lived 
upon  a plane  above  that  of  most  of  us,  and  yet  his 
genial  disposition,  his  kindly  heart,  and  his  bright 
mind  were  such,  that  we  who  were  below  could 
feel  the  contact  with  the  plane  above.  It  never  was 
necessary  for  him  to  use  the  hackneyed  phrase,  “The 
end  justifies  the  means,”  because  he  was  not  even 
piously  unfair.  He  was  always  fair.  His  mind 
was  so  constructed  that  he  was  honest  with  himself 

[ 32  ] 


and  all  the  world.  I have  often  thought,  and  I 
believe  now,  that  years  and  years  ago  Professor 
Macnie  had  heard  the  word,  and  raised  the  stone, 
for  if  ever  a man  had  found  the  Lord,  he  was 
that  man. 

To-day  we  are  gathered  to  do  him  honor,  which 
can  best  be  done  by  practising  and  preaching  his 
many  virtues. 

The  President  has  well  said,  his  influence  has 
been  as  wide  as  this  country,  for  from  out  of  this 
University  have  gone  men  to  points  far  distant, 
from  ocean  to  ocean,  and  from  the  northern  boun- 
dary to  the  Gulf,  who  have  won  honor  and  credit 
and  who  in  considering  success  refer  gratefully  to 
the  example  and  precept  of  Professor  Macnie.  He 
was  one  of  the  grandest  men  that  the  state  has 
ever  known,  and  we  to-day,  with  bowed  heads  and 
sorrowing  hearts,  mourn  the  loss  of  this  man,  who 
in  the  dignity  of  a ripe  old  age,  conscious  of  a life 
well  lived,  has  but  wrapped  the  draperies  of  his 
couch  about  him  and  lain  down  to  pleasant  dreams, 
to  awaken  only  with  the  dawn  of  the  everlasting 
day,  when  he  will  meet  the  love  of  his  youth  in 
that  golden  city  where  God  gives  his  children  rest. 


[ 33] 


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